Chapter 32: An ambush

Irin was startled when she saw something fly towards her from the side. It hit something in mid-air and bounced to the ground. She looked at it. An arrow?

"We are being attacked!" Koth announced. Irin had already figured that out; she had drawn a dagger from her belt and was trying to find somewhere for them to shelter, while also being on the lookout for their attacker. They were using arrows, which meant they didn't need to make themselves known right away.

"It must have come from somewhere near that big spruce," Irin told Koth, and he nodded. He had also drawn a dagger. They both knew their best weapon was their magic. Koth had obviously already erected a shield, or that arrow would have hit her, Irin thought.

"Over there," Koth said, pointing a little further ahead. Irin understood what he meant. There were a couple of trees standing in the middle of the field, with a couple of big boulders next to them. It was their best bet for cover. She nodded and they set the horses into a gallop. As they reached the trees, they dismounted before the horses had stopped. Nothing had happened since the arrow hit the shield. Irin and Koth both stared over the boulders towards the forest.

"Why aren't they attacking?" Irin whispered.

"I don't know. Maybe they didn't know we could use magic and now they aren't so eager to face us?" Koth whispered back.

"But if they are your father's men, wouldn't they know?"

"Maybe. I wouldn't put it past good old dad to leave that information out, especially if he sent men without their own magical ability," he told her. Irin took a moment to look at Koth. Maybe it had been a lucky break that she hadn't met his father and other brother. Jasper had been nice, in his own way; the other two seemed more sinister.

"Do we want to flush them out?" she asked, choosing not to comment on his father.

"Do you have an idea how to do it?"

"Maybe. It would be easier if we could narrow down the area they are in."

"I think you can assume you were correct about it being near the big spruce," he said.

"If I get them out in the open, are you ready to deal the first blow?" she asked, as she tried to see any sign of the attackers.

"I'm ready," he confirmed. Irin prayed and directed her magic to an area around the large evergreen tree. In the forest where her magic seeped in, the trees and undergrowth began to expand, grow thicker, leaving no space for someone to stand. It didn't take long for ten people to stumble out of the woods. They looked to be a mixed group with humans, orcs and even an elf. Irin felt the air around Koth stir as he summoned a lot of magic. He blasted it towards the group and Irin again felt grateful he had come with her. She expected something to happen to the group out on the field, but there was just a slight fizzle in the air and then nothing at all.

"Koth?" she asked.

"Someone blocked it," he said, sounding grumpier than ever. As he said it, two more men calmly stepped out from the trees. An elf and a human. They had been outside the area impacted by Irin's magic. Now they joined the rest of their group.

"Fuck! A mage and a shaman. This will be an issue," Koth said. Irin agreed.

"Your magic won't work on us," the human mage called out. "Just hand over the object to us and we will let you leave."

"Boss! You said we could have the woman," one of the men in the group whined.

"Shut up, Worp!" the mage hissed.

"No deal," Koth called back. "You can turn around and run back to my father and say that he won't get his hands on it." Irin watched as the men in the field talked amongst themselves while keeping an eye on her and Koth's hiding place. She regretted that they didn't have a bow or another type of ranged weapon with them. They had relied on their magic for that type of attack.

"They must know what kind of magic we use; we have both demonstrated it to them," she whispered to Koth. He looked like a thundercloud, but nodded. "So we can assume they have a barrier up that will block it," she continued, and got another nod. "But, what if we don't use our magic on them, but on the surroundings?" she asked. Koth looked away from the group in the field and looked at her instead.

"Like you did with the plants? That could work," he whispered.

"If we can keep the mage and druid distracted and separate the others into smaller groups, I can deal with them using my sword," she said.

"No."

"What? Why not?" Irin had thought it was a good idea. She felt the weight of the sword on her back and her hands itched to draw it. Not just yet. It was a surprise and if they could use it as such, and time it right, it could be the thing that turned the situation around. The only issue was that Irin needed to get up close to use it. It was almost useless at this distance.

"I'm not letting you run out in the open on your own when we know they have two kinds of magic and at least one bow," he told her.

"It's not like I would be defenceless. You would be distracting the magic wielders and I can put up a shield when I cover the distance to them that will protect against arrows."

"I don't like us splitting up. You never split up the group," he objected.

"What is your plan then?" she asked.

"I'm working on it," he huffed.

"Great! Then I guess we wait." And so they did. It was a strange stand-off. The group in the field didn't seem eager to push in on Koth and Irin's hideout. They didn't seem to want to give up either. Irin wondered why. "Got a plan yet?" she asked for the fifth time.

"No! And stop asking, it's distracting."

"Come on Koth. We can't just sit around here," Irin said, letting her impatience bleed through.

"I would rather sit here an hour and come up with a plan that keeps us both alive, than rush in and kill one, or both, of us," he replied.

"Fine. Have it your way. Just let me know when you realise my plan is the only reasonable one," she said.

"I think it's better if you stay here and distract them. Your magic works better on nature," he said after a long while.

"But I have the only sword," she pointed out.

"You could loan the sword to me," he suggested.

"Sorry, Koth. I trust you more than most people, but this is the family sword. Legend has it that it was given to my ancestor, the one who first earned our title, by the temple and that it is tied to our blood. It wouldn't have any special powers if I hand it to you," Irin explained.

"I don't need it to do things except kill. I can manage that much with it at least," Koth said.

"But why chance it? Why go in with a toothpick when you can go in with a blessed sword?" Irin asked.

"Fuck! Fine. We do it your way, but you better listen to me, little one. If I call out a direction or an instruction, you better do what I tell you to do," he said.

"Sure," she agreed.

"I mean it, Irin. I have never done something like this before and manipulating the environment isn't my strong suit. Things can go wrong and I need to know that if they do, I can trust that you get out of the way."

"I will listen and do as you say," she promised him.

"Okay. We should try and keep the sword a secret for as long as possible," he said. Irin nodded.

"Take one of your daggers and have that in your hand as you run. They will think we are desperate. Then drop it as you get close and pull your sword," Koth instructed her.

"Sounds like a plan," she agreed.

"I will try and raise a barrier cutting their group in half. I don't know if I will manage it, but I hope it will be a distraction at least."

"Okay. I'm ready when you are," Irin said. She pulled a dagger from her boot and edged closer to the side of the boulder. They locked eyes for a moment, both nodded and Irin felt the now familiar hum in the air as Koth gathered his magic. Irin said a quick prayer and erected a shield. Then she took off running towards the group of people.